Machine handle



April 25, 1935.9 N. B. sMYERs 2,156,200

MACHINE HANDLE NB, Smyw April 25, 1939.

N. B. SMYERS MACHINE HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 195e NBSmyg/S Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved machine handle or crank which is likewise equally well adapted for use as a ratchet wrench.

It is one aim of this invention to provide a device adapted to be secured to the feed screw .1.0 tion to provide a handle or crank which will normally remain disengaged from the machine but which may be quickly locked into or released from engagement therewith.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a 4lli device that will be actuated into operable engagement when grasped to be operated, and which may be readily adjusted to permanently lock it to the machine when it is desired to use it as a rigid handle or crank.

It is also intended to provide a handle or crank which may be operated as a ratchet or which may be turned in either direction free of the shaft with which it operates or which may turn said shaft in either direction.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a machine handle which may be used as a socket wrench of the ratchet type.

y Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become apparent from the following specication and from the drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention, and

wherein:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention shown partly in elevation,

Figure 2 is a similar view of the handle portion of the same showing the levers in a compressed position,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the opposite, end' of the invention showing the socket l4,0 locked against rotation by compression of the levers in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

, Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modied form of the head. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts in the different views, IB designates generally the machine handle or crank comprising a head a stem |2, and a handle I3.

Head comprises the segmental sections I4 and I5 provided with the corresponding abutting ears I6 having alined openings |'I to receive the fastenings I8 by which the sections are secured together. Head is provided with a longitudinally extending bore I9 opening at the upper end of the head I I, and which communicates with an enlarged annular groove 20 disposed intermediate of the ends of head A socket 2|, cylindrical in shape and provided with an annular collar 22 having teeth 23 formed 10 in its periphery, is mounted in bore 2o with the Collar 22 positioned in the recess 20. The end 24 of socket 2| projects out of the open end of sead .and is provided with a recess 25 which extends part of the length of socket 2|, and which l5 may be any shape. End 24 is provided with a clamping screw 23 to lock socket 2| to the end of a shaft designated 2l, which it is intended to turn as will hereinafter be described, and which the recess 25 is shaped to receive. 20

The stem I2 is formed integral, at one end with section I4 of head Stem |2 is hollow forming the bore 28 which is restricted at the end adjacent head by the annular inwardly extending shoulder 29. Beyond shoulder 29 bore 25 28 communicates with recess 20. 'Ihe opposite end of stem |2 terminates in a sleeve 3|) arranged substantially at right angles to stem |2. Bore 28 opens into sleeve 3|) and is alined with an opening 3| in the opposite side of the sleeve, for a pur- 30 pose to be hereinafter described.

Handle I3 is provided with a longitudinal bore 32 which opens at the bottom and extends substantially to the top of handle |3. Corresponding recesses 33 are formed in opposite sides of the 35 lower part of the handle and communicate adjacent their upper ends with bore 32 by means of the openings 34. Handle i3 is provided with a hood shaped portion 35 which is hollow interiorly, and which surrounds the upper end of recesses 40 33. Above hood 35 handle I3 is reduced to terminate in the cylindrical shank 35, adapted to receive sleeve 3|! and to be secured thereto by a washer 31 held in position against the upper end of sleeve 30 and shank 36 by the screw 38. Shank 45 36 is provided with an opening 39 communicating with bores 28 and 32.

From the foregoing it will be seen that stem |2 is formed integral with one part of head and secured to handle I3 as just described to connect 50 the parts together. As seen in Figure 1, head and handle |3 are substantially parallel with the former above the latter due to the inclined arrangement of stern |2 as seen.

Mounted in bore 28 of stem I2 is a rod 40 one 55 iii) end of which is guided by shoulder 29 and the opposite end by opening 39. Pivotally mounted, on the end of rod which extends through shoulder 29, is a dog 4|, which is slidably mounted in recess 28 and which is provided with teeth 42 to engage teeth 23 in collar 22. The opposite end of rod 4G which extends through opening 39 into bore 32 is beveled on its underside at 43. Rod 40, adjacent beveled end 43, is provided with a collar 44 between which and shoulder 23 a spring 45 is held under compression on the rod 4i). Spring 45 normally urges rod 4Q toward handle I3 to hold dog 4| out of engagement with collar 22 and to project end 43 into bore 32, as seen in Figure l.

Slidably mounted in bore 32 of handle |3 is a shaft or plunger 45 comprising the up-per and lower sections 41 and 4B respectively. Section 41 has its upper end beveled at 49 toface the beveled end 43 and mounted between these beveled faces is a sphere of slightly less diameter than the bore 32. Adjacent the beveled end 49 section 41 is provided with a reduced portion 5|, and in its opposite end is formed a recess 52.

The upper end of section 48 is provided with a recess 53 facing recess 52. In these recesses is mounted a coiled spring 54 which normally urges the sections away from each other. Beneath recess 53 section 43 is reduced on one side to form the slot 55 through which extends the pin 55, as best seen in Figure 5. Adjacent the lower end of slot 55 section 48 is provided with an annular groove 51 sized to receive pin 55. Pin 53 restricts the longitudinal movement of section 48 by abutting against the shoulders 58 at the ends of slot 55. When section 48 is in its fully raised position it may be revolved one-half a turn to cause pin 56 to engage groove 51 to lock the section. Spring 54 normally urges section 43 downwardly. The lower end of section 48, which is beneath bore 32, is knurled at 59 to provide a better grip for turning it.

Pivotally mounted in hood 35 by means of pins 33 are the levers 6| which extend downwardly, and which are positioned in recesses 33. Levers 3| above pins 6l) are provided with the inwardly projecting lugs or ears 32, which have the forked endsv G3, as seen in Figure 6. The forked ends 63 extend into the reduced portion 5| of section 41 and abut against the shoulders 64 at each end thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that spring 45 normally holds dog 4| out of engagement with collar 22 and urges the beveled end 43 in bore 32 to depress sphere 50 and plunger 41, as seen in Figure 1. When thus depressed, plunger 41 forces ears 62 downwardly to hold levers 6I out of recesses 33. This leaves socket 2| loose so that it can rotate freely in head By gripping handle i3 and the levers 6|, the latter will be compressed and move into recesses 33 swinging ears 62 upwardly, raising section 41 and sphere 50 which will project rod 40 to cause the teeth 42 on dog 4| to mesh with teeth 23 to lock socket 2| in head so that the crank lil will rotate with the shaft 21. If it is desired to retain the parts thus locked, section 48 may be pressed up against the action of spring 54 and rotate a half turn to engage pin 56 and groove 51 to lock head to socket 2| as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In assembling the crank li] end 43 is held in bore 28 by inserting any suitable instrument through opening 3|, while shank 3B is being inserted in sleeve 3B. In disassembling, parts. |4 and I5 are rst disconnected and socket 2| removed so that dog 4| can be drawn into bore I9 to allow sleeve 30 and shank 36 to be disconnected.

In Figure '7 a modified head designated Il' is shown, wherein the closed end 65 is made in the form of a plug which is removably held by fastenings 66. The recess 20 extends through and opens out of the lower end of the head.

Inasmuch as the machine handle l0 is adapted to be engaged and released by operation of levers 6 I, a ratchet type crank is provided which can be operated in either direction. Obviously socket 2| could be employed to turn a nut or plug and the device is therefore equally well adapted for use as a socket type ratchet wrench. For such use head or could obviously be inverted if desired.

Various other modications and changes, such as substituting a frictional engagement between collar 22 and dog 4| for the teeth 23 and 42 respectively, can obviously be resorted to and are contemplated without departing-from the spirit and principle of the invention as disclosed, and the right is reserved to make such modications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine handle comprising a head provided with a recess, a hollow stem extending from said head and communicating with'said recess, a handle secured to said stem at an angle thereto, and having a longitudinal bore, a socket provided with an annular'toothed collar rotatably mounted in said head, a rod slidably mounted in said stem, a toothed dog mounted on onerend of said rod to mesh with said toothed collar, a spring normally urging said dog out of engagement-with said collar, the opposite end of said rod extending into the bore of said handle and being beveled on its underside, a shaft formed of two sections slidably mounted in said bore, the upper end of the upper section being beveled to face the beveled end of said rod, a spherical member mounted between and in engagement with said beveled faces, levers pivotally mounted in said handle and having inwardly extending ears to engage the upper section of said shaft to raise it when said levers are compressed to actuate said spherical member to project the rod to lock said dog and collar to rigidly retain the socket in the head, said lower section having a reduced portion on one side forming a slot and a circumferential groove in its opposite side communicating with the lower end of said slot, a pin mounted in the handle and extending through said slot,` and means to raise said lower section to aline the pin and groove and for turning the lower section to move the groove into engagement with the pin to lock it in a raised position to retain the upper section in a raised position.

2. In a tool of the class described, a head provided with a recess having restricted ends, a. socket rotatably mounted in said recess and provided with an annular toothed collar, a stem projecting from said head, a rod slidably mounted in said stem and provided with a toothed dog at one end for engagement with said collar, spring means normally urging said rod away from said head, a handle secured to the opposite end of said stem and provided with a longitudinal bore, the opposite end of said rod projecting into said bore and being beveled on its underside, a shaft slidably mounted in the bore of said handle and provided with a beveled upper end facing the beveled face of said rod, a spherical member disposed between and in engagementwith said beveled faces, and levers pivotally mounted in said handle and provided with lugs engaging said shaft, said levers being compressible to raise the shaft to project the rod for engaging said dog and collar.

3. A vmachine handle comprising a recessed head having a hollow stem projecting therefrom and communicating with the recess in said head, a socket rotatably mounted in said head and provided with a toothed collar, a rod slidably mounted in said stem and provided with a toothed dog for engagement with said collar, spring means normally urging said dog out of engagement with the collar, a handle mounted on the free end of said stem, at an angle thereto, and provided with a longitudinal bore, a shaft slidably mounted in said handle, one' -end of said rod projecting into said handle and disposed adjacent one end of said shaft, said ends being beveled, a spherical member mounted between said beveled faces, and

' provided with inwardly projecting lugs engaging said shaft for projecting the shaft upwardly when said levers are compressed, to project the rod whereby said dog and collar will be meshed to rigidly hold the socket in the head.

5 4. An article as in claim 3, said shaft being divided transversely, the lower section of said shaft being provided with a reduced portion at one side forming a slot and with a circumferential groove adjacent the lower end of and communieating with said slot, a pin projecting through the bore of said handle and through said slot, and means on the lower end of said last mentioned section for raising it in said bore tol aline the pin and groove and for turning said section to engage the pin and groove to retain the upper section in its raised projected position.

NORMAN B. SMY'ERS. 

